Manchester City have all but signed Kalvin Phillips after agreeing a 42m deal with Leeds United and Darren Bent has hailed the Premier League champions for grabbing themselves a bargain. He believes the 26-year-old is a steal at £42m as he’s one of the best ball-winners in the Premier League.
Bent said on talkSPORT: “£42million for Kalvin Phillips? It’s bonkers. For (him), it’s fantastic being a part of the best team around. He’s a top player. They’ve always had two holding midfielders, (so) Fernandinho leaving means they need someone else there.”
Rodri is a regular for Man City in the deep-lying midfield role, so he’s unlikely to relinquish his spot for Phillips. Read Man City questioned why Pep Guardiola would spend so much on a backup player, but the City boss must have a plan for the England international beyond bench duty and sporadic appearances.
Pundits have warned Phillips that he might not get a lot of playing time next season too while others told him to join a side lower down the Premier League table to ensure he’d get regular appearances, but the 26-year-old is excited to work with Guardiola and must have had some assurances over his role.
Bent added: “Kalvin Phillips (has) international aspirations (and) was key in England getting to the final of the Euros, so if he starts playing for this Man City team he could become a mainstay in the England team.”
City did need to replace Fernandinho, but they’ve brought in a player that would start for most clubs in the league, so Guardiola needs to find a way to keep him happy. Bent applauds the move, however.
In other news, Pep Guardiola ‘wants’ 22 y/o but deal ‘depends’ on Man City duo being sold
Pep experimented last season with Rodri and Fernandinho playing together. Also, probably more importantly Pep suggested playing Rodri further forward. It is not as some pundits would have us believe to be either or. It could be both. Peps teams tactics and rotations are difficult to predict.